Trump’s Economic Self-Assessment Sparks Controversy in Pennsylvania
As President Donald Trump prepares to deliver remarks on the economy in a swing district of Northeastern Pennsylvania, his audacious self-assessment of an “A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus” for his economic performance is sending shockwaves through the political landscape.
Pennsylvania’s Democratic Governor, Josh Shapiro, expressed his incredulity in an exclusive statement to POLITICO, asserting that Trump’s claims are woefully disconnected from the lived experiences of many residents who previously supported him. “The President’s statement does not reflect the reality on the ground here in a community where many Pennsylvanians voted for him in the last election,” Shapiro declared. “The record is clear: his policies have hurt the very communities that propelled him to the White House. Trump’s tariffs and economic policies have raised prices at the grocery store, shuttered markets for our farmers, hurt our manufacturers, and dramatically increased the cost of living for Pennsylvanians.”
During his interview with POLITICO, when quizzed about his economic performance, Trump’s enthusiastic self-grading elicited eye-rolls. Despite a recent POLITICO Poll indicating that voters are feeling financially squeezed, Trump remains steadfast in his optimism. The Consumer Price Index shows prices rose by 3 percent over the year ending in September, a statistic that seems to contradict his buoyant assessment. His advisors are framing this Pennsylvania visit as a chance to recalibrate an affordability message that has struggled under the weight of his claims about economic strength.
The implications of Trump’s comments are already being weaponized against him as the midterms approach, evident in Shapiro’s pointed response and similar critiques from other Democrats.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, eyeing a potential 2028 presidential run, chimed in with his own critique, suggesting that Trump’s grading system must somehow exclude the realities of rent, groceries, and healthcare. “Must be graded on a curve that excludes rent, groceries, and healthcare,” Pritzker quipped in a recent post on X.
Shapiro continued, emphasizing the need for genuine solutions over political theatrics. “Bringing his alternative reality and talking points to our Commonwealth won’t bring down the cost of groceries or make life more affordable for working families,” he stated. “Instead of trying to put on a show, he should get to work with Democrats and Republicans to actually cut costs for hard-working families — as we have done here in Pennsylvania.”
On the flip side, Steve Bannon, a staunch Trump ally and host of the “War Room” podcast, defended Trump’s claims, expressing confidence in his ability to promote his affordability agenda. “If you’re gonna go on the road, go on it, but he’s showing you that he’s the best person to sell his program,” Bannon asserted. “And if you don’t believe it’s an ‘A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus,’ then you’re not the right guy to sell it.”
Senator Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) sidestepped a direct endorsement of Trump’s grade during a Fox Business appearance, instead acknowledging the challenges ahead. “I think the starting point is we’re digging out of a huge hole that we’re in as a result of the Biden administration,” he stated. “What the president is saying is we’ve done a remarkable amount over the last 12 months. The economy is better… but there’s a lot more work to do. Working families that are still living paycheck to paycheck, they’re still feeling crunched — by health care, by energy costs.”
White House spokesperson Kush Desai echoed this sentiment, noting that “much work remains,” but underscoring that “putting an end to Joe Biden’s inflation and affordability crisis has been a Day One priority for President Trump.” He highlighted achievements such as “slashing costly regulations to securing historic drug pricing deals efforts that have cooled inflation and raised real wages.”
Stacy Garrity, the GOP gubernatorial candidate and Pennsylvania state treasurer, was set to attend Trump’s event in Mount Pocono. Although she refrained from commenting directly on Trump’s economic grading, her spokesperson indicated her enthusiasm for collaboration with the president: “The treasurer is looking forward to being a partner with Trump and not a courtroom opponent like Josh Shapiro.”
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